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Typhoon Mangkhut kills 12 in Philippines, heads to southern China

Typhoon Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain that set off landslides and destroyed homes on Saturday, leaving at least 12 people dead, as Hong Kong and other parts of southern China braced for the powerful storm.

Typhoon Mangkhut kills 12 in Philippines, heads to southern China

Rains cover the city as strong winds batter houses and buildings lying on the path of Typhoon Mangkhut as it makes landfall on September 15, 2018 in Tuguegarao city, northern Philippines.(Photo11: jes Aznar, Getty Images)

TUGUEGARAO, Philippines – Typhoon Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain that set off landslides and destroyed homes on Saturday, leaving at least 12 people dead, as Hong Kong and other parts of southern China braced for the powerful storm.

The most ferocious typhoon to hit the disaster-prone Philippines this year slammed ashore before dawn in Cagayan province on the northeastern tip of Luzon island, a breadbasket that is also a region of flood-prone rice plains and mountain provinces with a history of deadly landslides.

More than 5 million people were at risk from the storm, which the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center downgraded from a super typhoon. Mangkhut, however, was still punching powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane when it hit the Philippines.

China and the Philippines agreed to postpone a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that was to start Sunday due to the typhoon’s onslaught, which caused nearly 150 flights, a third of them international, to be canceled and halted sea travel.

Francis Tolentino, an adviser to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, said the 12 died mostly in landslides and houses that got pummeled by the storm’s fierce winds and rain. Among the fatalities were an infant and a 2-year-old child who died with their parents after the couple refused to immediately evacuate from their high-risk community in a mountain town in Nueva Vizcaya province, Tolentino said.

“They can’t decide for themselves where to go,” he said of the children, expressing frustration that the tragedy was not prevented.

Tolentino, who was assigned by Duterte to help coordinate disaster response, said at least two other people were missing. He said the death toll could climb to at least 16 once other casualty reports were verified.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said at least three people died and six others were missing in his mountain city of Baguio after strong winds and rain destroyed several houses and set off landslides, which also blocked roads to the popular vacation destination. It was not immediately clear whether the deaths and missing cited by Domogan had been included in Tolentino’s count.

Authorities were verifying the drownings of three people, including two children who reportedly died as the typhoon approached. About 70 men reportedly returned to their coastal village in Cagayan to check on their homes as the storm drew closer Friday, but Tolentino said he had received no reports of the men figuring in an accident.

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Rescuers carry a body during rescue and retrieval operation for landslide victims caused by Typhoon Mangkhut in Ucab village, Itogon town, Benguet Province, Philippines on Sept. 19, 2018 . The number of people killed in the Philippines by typhoon Mangkhut rose to 81 and dozens remain missing, according to provisional data gathered as emergency teams access areas struck by the storm. Nel Maribojoc, EPA-EFE

Families wait for the bodies of their loved ones who were killed by a landslide on Sept. 19, 2018 in Itogon, Benguet province, Philippines. Dozens of people are feared to be buried by a landslide in the mining town of Itogon, in Benghuet province, after Super Typhoon Mangkhut triggered a massive landslide in northern Philippines which destroyed hundreds of homes and killed over 80 people while more bodies are being recovered from the landslide. The storm slammed into the main Philippine island of Luzon over the weekend and continued its path through Hong Kong and Southern China, killing four people in the province of Guangdong as 2.5 million people were evacuated in Guangdong and on Hainan island. Getty Images, Getty Images

A woman stands before a collapsed building of a school next to a beach in the aftermath of Typhoon Mangkhut in the coastal village of Shek O in Hong Kong on Sept. 18, 2018. Hong Kong was still struggling to get back on its feet, with a massive clean-up operation to clear broken trees, repair torn-up roads and fix damaged power lines. The violent typhoon killed four in China's southern province of Guangdong and the toll climbed on Tuesday to 74 on the Philippines' northern Luzon island according to police, with that number expected to rise. Dale De La Rey, AFP/Getty Images

Filipino rescuers carry a body of a person inside a body bag at the site where people were believed to have been buried by a landslide on Sept. 18, 2018 in in Itogon, Benguet province, Philippines. At least 36 people are feared to be buried by a landslide in the mining town of Itogon, in Benghuet province, after Super Typhoon Mangkhut triggered a massive landslide in northern Philippines which destroyed hundreds of homes and killed over 60 people. The storm slammed into the main Philippine island of Luzon over the weekend and continued its path through Hong Kong and Southern China, killing four people in the province of Guangdong as 2.5 million people were evacuated in Guangdong and on Hainan island. Getty Images, Getty Images

A general view shows the landslide site due to heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Mangkhut in Itogon, Benguet province on Sept. 17, 2018. Philippine rescuers used shovels and their bare hands to claw through mounds of rocky soil on September 17, as they desperately looked for dozens of miners feared buried beneath a landslide unleashed by Typhoon Mangkhut. Ted Aljibe, AFP/Getty Images

Damage as a result of Typhoon Mangkhut on the waterfront of a house estate in Hong Kong, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Hong Kong and southern China hunkered down as strong winds and heavy rain from Typhoon Mangkhut lash the densely populated coast. The biggest storm of the year left dozens dead from landslides and drownings as it sliced through the northern Philippines. Vincent Yu, AP

A resident stands beside toppled houses at the site where victims are believed to have been buried by a landslide after Typhoon Mangkhut lashed Itogon, Benguet province, northern Philippines on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said that at the height of the typhoon's onslaught Saturday afternoon, dozens of people, mostly miners and their families, rushed into an old three-story building in the village of Ucab. The building, a former mining bunkhouse that had been transformed into a chapel, was obliterated when part of a mountain slope collapsed. Aaron Favila, AP

People travel through a flooded road brought about by Typhoon Mangkhut which barreled into northeastern Philippines during the weekend and inundated low-lying areas in its 900-kilometer wide cloud band, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018 in Calumpit township, Bulacan province north of Manila, Philippines. A Philippine mayor says it's highly unlikely any of the 40 to 50 people who are feared buried in a mudslide set off by Typhoon Mangkhut can be found alive. Bullit Marquez, AP

A boat sits on a sea wall after being hit by Typhoon Mangkhut in Saikung, Hong Kong, China on Sept. 17, 2018. Typhoon Mangkhut was one of the most severe storms to hit Hong Kong in recent decades. Jerome Favre, EPA-EFE

Rescuers carry a body recovered from a landslide caused by Typhoon Mangkhut in Itogon, Benguet province, northern Philippines on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said that at the height of the typhoon's onslaught Saturday afternoon, dozens of people, mostly miners and their families, rushed into an old three-story building in the village of Ucab. The building, a former mining bunkhouse that had been transformed into a chapel, was obliterated when part of a mountain slope collapsed. Aaron Favila, AP

Police officers carry a girl out of a collapsed school on September 16, 2018 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. City officials raised the storm alert to T10, it's highest level, as Typhoon Mangkhut landed on Hong Kong. The strongest tropical storm of the season so far, with winds as fast as 125 miles per hour, Mangkhut has reportedly killed at least 25 people in the Philippines as it continues it's path towards southern China. Lam Yik Fei, Getty Images

Waves crash onto the coastline in Zhuhai in southern China's Guangdong Province on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. Typhoon Mangkhut barrelled into southern China on Sunday after lashing the northern Philippines with strong winds and heavy rain that left at least 64 people dead and dozens more feared buried in a landslide. Liang Xu, Xinhua via AP

Windows of commercial building damaged by typhoon on Sept. 16, 2018 in Hong Kong. City officials raised the storm alert to T10, it's highest level,as Typhoon Mangkhut landed on Hong Kong. The strongest tropical storm of the season so far with winds as fast as 200 kilometers per hour, Mangkhut has reportedly killed at least 25 people in the Philippines as it continues it's path towards southern China. Lam Yik Fei, Getty Images

Residents going across a road damaged by typhoon Mangkhut in Itogon, Benguet province, north of Manila, Philippines on Sept. 16, 2018. The number of people killed in the Philippines by typhoon Mangkhut rose to 25 while dozens are missing, according to provisional data gathered as emergency teams access areas struck by the storm. EPA-EFE

A man takes photos during the approach of super Typhoon Mangkhut to Hong Kong on Sept. 16, 2018. Super Typhoon Mangkhut has smashed through the Philippines, as the biggest storm to hit the region this year claimed the lives of its first victims and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. Philip Fong, AFP/Getty Images

Rescuers and paramedics and volunteers conduct search and retrieval operation to locate the three missing persons who were buried due to landslide caused by typhoon Mangkhut at Balacbac, Baguio City, north of Manila, Philippines on Sept. 16, 2018. EPA-EFE

Philippine soldiers assist a family carrying their sick child to a waiting government vehicle after their ambulance failed to make it through a road blocked with fallen tree debris and electric posts toppled by strong winds from Super Typhoon Mangkhut in Baggao, Cagayan province on Sept.15, 2018. Ted Aljibe, AFP/Getty Images

Staff of an ambulance carrying a sick child try to clear a road of debris and toppled electric posts caused by strong winds from super Typhoon Mangkhut along a road in Baggao in Cagayan province, north of Manila Sept. 15, 2018, as they try to bring the sick child to a nearby hospital of Tuguegarao city. Ted Aljibe, AFP/Getty Images

A girl plays with her mother's cellphone as residents living along the coastal community of Baseco seek temporary shelter at an evacuation center in the onslaught of Typhoon Mangkhut which barreled into northeastern Philippines before dawn Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 in Manila, Philippines. Philippine officials were assessing damage and checking on possible casualties as Typhoon Mangkhut on Saturday pummeled the northern breadbasket with ferocious wind and rain that set off landslides, damaged an airport terminal and ripped off tin roofs. Bullit Marquez, AP

A resident walks along destroyed stalls at a public market due to strong winds as Typhoon Mangkhut barreled across Tuguegrao city in Cagayan province, northeastern Philippines on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. The typhoon slammed into the Philippines northeastern coast early Saturday, it's ferocious winds and blinding rain ripping off tin roof sheets and knocking out power, and plowed through the agricultural region at the start of the onslaught. Aaron Favila, AP

Manila police give out rice porridge to residents living along the coastal community of Baseco as they evacuate during the onslaught of Typhoon Mangkhut which barreled into northeastern Philippines before dawn Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 in Manila, Philippines. Bullit Marquez, AP

A resident tries to avoid floodwaters by boarding a raft in San Mateo town of Rizal Province, east of Manila, Philippines 15 September 2018. Mangkhut, the most powerful typhoon to strike the Philippines in the last five years, made landfall in the northeastern town of Baggao with maximum sustained winds of 128 mph and gusts of up to 177 mph. Rolex Dela Pena, EPA-EFE

Mangkhut’s sustained winds weakened to 170 kilometers (105 miles) per hour with gusts of up to 260 kph (161 mph) after it sliced northwestward across Luzon before blowing out to the South China Sea, aiming at Hong Kong and elsewhere in southern China.

About 87,000 people evacuated from high-risk areas of the Philippines. Tolentino and other officials advised them not to return home until the lingering danger had passed.

“It’s still a life and death situation,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said by phone, citing past drownings in swollen rivers in mountain provinces after storms had passed.

Storm warnings remained in effect in 10 northern provinces, including Cagayan, which could still be lashed by devastating winds, forecasters said. Thousands of people in the typhoon’s path had been evacuated.

At daybreak in Cagayan’s capital, Tuguegarao, Associated Press journalists saw a severely damaged public market, its roof ripped apart and wooden stalls and tarpaulin canopies in disarray. Outside a popular shopping mall, debris was scattered everywhere and government workers cleared roads of fallen trees.

Many stores and houses were damaged but most residents remained indoors as occasional gusts sent small pieces of tin sheets and other debris flying dangerously.

The Tuguegarao airport terminal was badly damaged, its roof and glass windows shattered by strong winds that also sent chairs, tables and papers flipping about inside, Lorenzana said.

The typhoon struck at the start of the rice and corn harvesting season in Cagayan, a major agricultural producer, prompting farmers to scramble to save what they could of their crops, Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said.

A government damage assessment was underway except in areas still being battered by winds and rain. Two air force C-130 cargo planes and 10 helicopters were on standby in Manila, the Philippines’ capital, to help transport rescuers and aid supplies.

In Hong Kong, Security Minister John Lee Ka-chiu urged residents to prepare for the worst as the storm barreled toward the southern Chinese city.

Cathay Pacific said all of its flights would be canceled between 2:30 a.m. local time on Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday.

“Because Mangkhut will bring winds and rains of extraordinary speeds, scope and severity, our preparation and response efforts will be greater than in the past,” Lee told a briefing on Friday. “Each department must have a sense of crisis, make a comprehensive assessment and plan, and prepare for the worst.”

In nearby Fujian province in China, 51,000 people were evacuated from fishing boats and around 11,000 vessels returned to port on Saturday morning.

China’s National Meteorological Center issued an alert saying Mangkhut would make landfall somewhere on the coast in Guangdong province on Sunday afternoon or evening.

Ferry services in the Qiongzhou Strait in southern China were halted on Saturday and helicopters and tugboats were dispatched to Guangdong to transfer offshore workers to safety and warn ships about the typhoon, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Mangkhut, the Thai word for mangosteen fruit, is the 15th storm this year to batter the Philippines, which is hit by about 20 a year and is considered one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan left more than 7,300 people dead or missing, flattened villages, swept ships inland and displaced more than 5 million in the central Philippines.